End labeling process and apparatus



May 23, 1944. A. J. SCHMIDT EI'AL END LABELING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR AUGUST J. SCHMIDT JACKSON BY JOHN ATTORNEY May 23, 1944. A. J. sci-mug ETAL END LABELING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 6 6 M m m 6 %M6 0 5 R a w 7 W 4 9 w w w 5 w m 1 I 5 v m I: l l 1 ll m 1M| rm MW F 4.\\

AUGUST J.5CHM\DT BY JOHN JACKSON j ATTORNEY Patented May 23, 1944 END LABELING PROCESS D APPARATUS August J. Schmidt, Glendale, and John Jackson, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 2, 1940, Serial No. 321,820

2 Claims. (Cl. 216-53) This invention relates to improvements in wrapping or packaging, more particularly to an improved processand end label attachment for applying labels to the ends of packages. The main object of the invention is to secure labels to packages having a plain, waxed or coated paper wrapper, or other coated or uncoated wrapping material.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate the improved attachment, the labels are stacked in magazines from which they are successively withdrawn horizontally by a segment roller and led to rollers of the 1abel feed which feed them into a vertical position. The labels are drawn horizontally from the label feed by a cam actuated revolving gripper which nips the labels and carries them over a roller which applies a coating of adhesive to the labels and then attaches them to the ends of the package. A further object is to permit the adjustment of the label feed to stop the label in different vertical positions to center it with packages of various heights, or to permit the feeding of labels of various sizes into centered relation with the packages.

In wrapping merchandise subject to deterioration unless protected from changes in moisture content, it has been a common practice to encase the packages with a waxed paper wrapper whose seams are fused together by heat sealing means. In the past, ordinary means for attaching labels over a wax paper covering have proven unsuccessful as they fail to produce adhesion, resulting in the labels falling or peeling off the packages when they are handled.

We have found that if the label is coated with an adhesive and rolled on to the folded ends of the package shortly before heat sealing the wrapper ends that the label adhesive will permeate the melted wax coating and adhere to the paper when the ends of the package are subjected to the sealer members. Still another object of the invention is to apply and heat seal glued labels to packages in this manner, and to provide a construction wherein the end label attachment and heaters are simultaneously adjustable to accommodate packages of various lengths. With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in iew the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the end label attachment used in conjunction with a wrapping machine;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the label magazine and feed;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the label gripper unit;

Fig. 5 is a sectional planview taken from line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the end of the label nipped by the gripper; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the label attached to one end of the package.

In the particular embodiment o the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, the invention is shown in conjunction with a bread wrapping machine of well known construction wherein a sprocket iii (Fig. 1) is driven by one of the endless conveyor chains (not shown) which are provided with flights serving to propel the packages through the machine. Sprocket i0 is mounted on a shaft ll supported in bearing brackets l2 and i3 carried by a cross bar M attached to the side frames l5 and I8 of the wrapping machine. Over a sprocket l1 mounted on the outer end of shaft II is trained a. sprocket chain which drives one sprocket of a double sprocket l8 splined on a counter-shaft l9 supported directly below shaft l I by a bracket 20 attached to frame l5 and a bearing 2| in an adjustable support 22. A bevel gear 23 splined on shaft l9 meshes with bevel gear 24 on the drive shaft of the label attachment indicated generally at A in Fig. 1, and thereby imparts motion to the same.

From the double sprocket l8, by means of a chain trained over the second sprocket thereof is driven a sprocket 25 fastened on the protruding end of cross shaft 26, thus driving a bevel gear 21 meshing with a bevel gear 28 fixed on the vertical shaft 29 of the label attachment A (Fig. 1) which is supported in bearings of the bracket 22, shaft 26 being joumaled in the frames l5 and IS. The upper end of shaft 29 is equipped with a gear 30 driving a gear 3| fixed on a stub shaft 32 carried by bracket 83 detachably fastened on support 22. On the lower end of shaft 32 is mounted a dog 34 provided with a vertical pin 35 engaging a horizontal arm 36 which is fastened to the glue roller 31 suitably supported on a vertical axis in bearings of the glue pot 38 and protruding from an opening in the same. It will be seen that dog 36, by means of this connection, drives the roller 31. A bevel gear 39 also mounted on shaft 26 drives a bevel gear l0 mounted on the upright shaft ll of the label attachment B and imparts motion to a gear 42 meshing with gear 48 fixed on a stub shaft 44 carried by a bracket 45 attached to the other adjustable support (Fig. 1). Gear 48 by means of a dog (not shown) similarly drives a glue roller (not shown) carried by a glue reservoir 41 which is of the same construction as reservoir 38. -The construction and arrangement of the glue roller in receptacle 38, and the horizontal arm and do through which it is driven, is identical with that described in the label attachment A, wherefore illustration of the same is deemed unnecessary. Removal of the brackets 83 and 45 will disengage the dogs from the respective arm of the glue roller and terminate the driving of the same. Thereupon the glue pots 38 and 41 may be unfastened and removed from their respective supports 22 and 46, for cleaning purposes, etc. A

- sprocket 48, on the other protruding end of shaft 26 by means of a chain, drives a sprocket 49 splined on shaft 58 and thereby drives a bevel gear meshing with a bevel gear 52 and imparts motion to the label attachment indicated generally at B.

Since the label attachments indicated at A and B are of identical construction and design, it is deemed sufflcient to describe the details of but one of the units as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The labels L are stacked in a vertical magazine consisting of upright corner posts 53 and 54, post 53 being provided with a base 55 secured to the bracket 56, attached to one of the adjustable supports. -Post 53 supports slotted bars 51 and 58 which at their ends carry posts 54, a slotted bar 58 being fastened to the post on bar 58 to carry the third post 54. In this manner, when thumb screws 68 and BI are loosened, their respective posts may be adjusted in or out to suit the width of the label. and, by means of a thumb screw 62, the bar 58 and its supported members may be adjusted to suit the length of the label.

The labels L rest on a segmental feed roller 83 and a slotted plate 54 adjustably carried by the end brackets 56 and 55. Each of the said brackets are provided with plates 66 having milled portions engaging and clamped to the ends of plate 64. The plate 64 in this manner may be moved in or out to suit the size of the 1abel and when correctly set it is held in position by clamp screws 61. Plate 64 carries blocks 88 supporting a stud 58 provided with an adjustably mounted arm 78 having a slotted portion II in which is clamped a needle or blade I2 adapted to penetrate the lowermost labels and retain said labels in the stack, allowing but one at a time to be withdrawn from the magazine by feed roller 63. Plate 64 is also provided with an elongated slot I3 through which member 72 protrudes, permitting adjustment of the arm I8 into centered relation with respect to the length of the labels.

The bevel gear 24 or 52 of the label attachment A or B respectively, is suitably driven as described above and fastened on the protruding end of shaft I5, a dog 76 fixed on said shaft engaging a pin ll protruding from roller 63 and driving said roller which is loosely mounted on shaft I5. A spur gear 78 fixed on one end of shaft I5 meshes with an intermediate gear 78 which drives a gear 88 fastened on shaft BI carrying the lower feed roller 82. The other end of shaft BI is provided with a gear 83 meshing with a gear 84 fixed on a shaft 85 carrying spaced upper feed rollers 86. Shaft 85 is supported in arms 81 pivoted on studs 88 supported in the projecting lugs 88 of the brackets 58 and I. Eyebolts 88 at the end of each arm 81 support springs 8I which are anchored to posts 82 and tend to hold feed rollers 82 and 88 in contact with each other. Adjustment of eye-bolts 88 will vary the tenson of springs 8 I, thus regulating the pressure of the feed rollers to obtain the best results for feeding the labels.

The roller 83 in revolving brings its high portions 85 successively into contact with the lowermost label in the magazine and withdraws and advances the same over the slotted plate 88 leading to the feed rollers 82 and 88. Since the speed of the feed rollers 82 and" is greater than that of the roller 68, when the label is nipped by the feed rollers it pulls the roller 88 along at the same surface speed whereby driving pin I1 is disengaged from its driving dog I8. When the label has advanced sufliciently to terminate its contact with roller 68 the driving dog will overtake and once again engage the pin and drive the said roller the remainder of its cycle. With this arrangement the label being fed cannot be torn or wrinkled and any tendency of disturbing the labels stacked in the magazine is also overcome.

The label after leaving rollers 82 and 88 is guided downward by a curved member 81 hinged to a guide plate 88 which is attached to a backing plate 88 carried by the brackets 58 and II. A gap I88 between plates 88 and 88 permits the labels to be advanced downward by belts I II driven by a pulley I82 mounted on shaft II and running over an idler pulley I83. The label stops against an adjustable plate I84 which permits centering of the label vertically with respect to the packages. Plate I84 by means of its connection to a threaded lug I88 may be moved up or down by turning the adjusting screw I88, whereby the label may be halted at a higher or lower position to bring it into centered relation with packages of various heights.

The label is withdrawn edgewise from this latter position by a gripper which will now be described. The upright shaft 29 (Figs. 4 and 5) is supported in bearings H8 and III respectively, of the adjustable support 22. The label transfer H2 issecured to the lower end of the shaft 28 by a set screw or the like and revolves upon a stationary sleeve II3 secured in bearing H8. The label transfer H2 is provided with a pintle II4 on one end of which is pivotally mounted a cam lever II5 connected to a link H6 which operates the gripper fingers III. Fingers II I are loosely mounted on studs H8 set in the hub of label transfer H2. To the pins II 8 in fingers II! is fastened one end of springs I28 which at their other end are anchored to studs HI and tend to normally hold the fingers closed (Fig, 5). A cam I22 fixed on sleeve II 3 has a raised portion I23 which engages the nose I24 of cam lever H5 and through its connections opens the fingers I I! at the proper time.

The spaced arcuate ribs I25 of the label transfer I I2 engage and support the gripped label during its travel over the glue roller which applies adhesive to the face of the label. Into the grooves I 28 between the ribs I25 project the label stripper fingers I21, which may have the form of resilient leaf springs, as shown in Fig. 1, and are adjustably mounted.

The package P (Fig. l) in being propelled through the runway of the machine, has its projecting wrapper ends folded by suitable folder plates I38 located at each end of the package. The label transfers H2 in revolving permit the cam I22 to open the gripper fingers III and hold them open until they arrive in position to nip the labels L. At this point the nose I 24 of cam lever II rides off the high portion of cam I22, permitting spring I to close the fingers III! on one upright edge of the labels L as shown in Fig. 6. The labels are then transported over rollers 31 which apply a coating of adhesive. and the continued travel of the label brings it into engagement with the ends of the moving package. When the leading ends of the label L have been applied to the package the fingers II! are opened, thus releasing the labels. The remaining portion of the labels are then rolled on to the ends of the package by the ribs I25, and the continued movement of the same carries them past suitable heated sealing members I3I which fuse together the folded flaps of the folded wrapper ends. The wrapper on being heated permits the adhesive applitd to the label to permeate its softened wax coating and adhere to the underlying paper. The finished package P has the appearance shown in Fig. 7.

The supports 22 and 48 which carry the label attachments are mounted on bars I32 and I33,

respectively, of the machine, whereon the folder plates I are yieldingly mounted. These bars may be adjusted in or out, to accommodate the length of the packages, by manipulating a handwheel I30 which turns a spindle I35 provided with oppositely threaded portions engaging in threaded hubs I36 and I3! of bars I32 and I83 respectively.

It will be seen that various sizes of labels with in the range of adJustment of the label magazines may be applied to the package ends in properly centered relation, vertically and transversely thereon. By relatively turning or adjusting the sprockets of the double sprocket I8 the motion of the label transfer H2 may be advanced or retarded relative to the motion of the packages to cause labels of various sizes to be applied to their ends in properly centered relation transversely thereof. For this purpose the sprockets of the double sprocket I8 are bolted together, wherefore they may be unbolted and turned relatively to each other to obtain the desired transverse centering of the label. The vertical centering is achieved by the appropriate adjustment of the stop plate I04.

A variety of coated materials may be used for the labels such as gummed paper. When using gummed labels, the reservoir 38 may be filled with water and the gummed fact thereof moistened by being drawn over the roller 31.

To permit the grippers III to be centered with respect to the label in the various positions in which it may be halted by the adjustment of stop I04, the space between the bearings III 'and III of the shaft 20 may be sumcient to allow axial adjustment of the label transfer II: thereon. Upon unloosening the set screw securing it to the shaft 29 the label transfer may be shifted to the desired position. Moreover the shaft 29 may be provided with movable thrust collars (not shown) in the spaces between the label transfer and the bearings H0 and III. It may be noted that the forward edge of the ribs I25 against which the label is held by the grip- .pers H1, is sufficiently beveled to stop the grippers inside the periphery of the ribs in the various positions of the label transfer to avoid interference with the roller 31.

Since each of the folder plates I30 may-be provided with an electric heater I40 (Fig. 1), which maintains the plates I30 at a sufilciently elevated temperature to fuse the wax coating on the outer faces of the wrapper end folds and thus cause them to adhere to each other at their overlaps, the exposed faces of the overlapped package end folds will be sufficiently tacky to cause the labels to adhere thereto during their application and remain thereon until they reach the heat sealers l3l. It may be noted that the labels assure that the overlapped end folds will be kept closed and furthermore, permit the use of a narrower wrapper, and saving of paper since the amount of overlap of the end flaps may be diminished without exposing the contents of the wrapper. In the case of certain types of loaves, such as overproofed" loaves, the upper portions of the loaf ends bulge sufficiently to make the proper sealing of overlapped package end folds with flat folder plates diflicult. When labels are applied in adhering relation to package end folds as described above, the danger of such folds opening is substantially minimized. A suitable v form of adhesive which may be applied to the labels while they are carried into contact with the package ends is ordinary glue.

This application constitutes a continuation in part of our prior application, S. N. 171,388, filed Oct. 27, 1937, on which Reissue Patent No. 21,573 was granted.

What is claimed is:

l. A process comprising heat sealing overlapped end folds of a package having a wrapper provided with an external fusible coating and thereby rendering tacky the exposed faces of the overlapped end folds, applying coated labels to said end folds while the exposed faces thereof are tacky, and heating the labeled package ends to secure the applied labels to said end folds.

2. Thecombination with means for heating the end folds of a wrapped package whose wrapper is provided with an external thermoplastic coating, to render the external coating of said end folds tacky, mechanism for pressing coated labels against said tacky folds to cause adhesion of the labels thereto, and members for heating the labeled package ends to secure the labels to said end folds.

AUGUST J. BCENED'I. JOHN JACKSON. 

